After traveling along a beautiful part of the river, we arrived in Hertford. We had been warned about the lack of moorings in the town so after shuffling Merlot around, we found a space in a spot where the sun can get to the solar panels and we can get a satellite signal for TV!!!!!!! After settling merlot down then putting our crayfish nets into the water, we had a walk (5 min) into the small town. First and foremost, to |Trev's delight there was a lovely new Weatherspoons pub......... The town itself is quite small but very nice offering most of the shops and supermarkets we could need. We decided to stay for the full week.
We spent the next couple of days chilling out, exploring the town and surrounding area, nothing too exciting.
We walked to a farm shop, about 30 min across the countryside and stocked up on some meat, bread and vegies. I spent one moring making jam with the berries we had collected.
We also caught lots of signal crayfish. For those in SA, these crayfish are no where near the size of crayfish caught in Sa but still quite meaty all the same. Its quite strange cooking something we had caught (seems silly but I think I have to get over the fact that they were caught in the river albeit the water is quite clean and clear. It did take ages getting the meat out of the tails and claws but eventually job done and we have more FREE food yipeeeeee................
The weather has been lovely.
Wednesday 24th August
We set off from Hertford after filling up with water at the first water point and arrived at a small village called Roydon. We decided to stay the night although the mooring was rather less than perfect. We were opposite a railway station with a small road running along side the mooring and it was VERY noisy as the trains passed every 10 min to and from London. No matter, we cannot always find the perfect mooring!! One thing quite interesting was an Italian restaurant right on the train station platform, very atmospheric. I went over to investigate and after speaking to the owner, it was clear the food would be good but the prices reflected the standard so we decided to give it a miss. (Good Italian food is so easy to make so I am loath to hand over what I am sure would be around sixty quid for a meal) One day when we win the lottery, I wont care ..he! he!
25th Thursday August
We moved Merlot a little further up the river to a better and quieter mooring for tonight. We were near a town called Harlow but not near enough to walk. A bus and train ride later on that day and we were in the Town. Its one of those purpose built towns (after the second world war). No character, ugly buildings and lots of discount shops but to my delight, we found a huge Asda. My fav supermarket. We stocked up and made our way back to Merlot.
Friday 26th August
We left Harlow and arrived in Sawbridgeworth. We found a lovely mooring just after the lock and 10 min walk into the small town (possibly just a village). A fellow boater told us that one of the many pubs in the village where having a beer festival and live music that night so as it would have been rude not too...... we went along to see what was what. We met some nice people (two SA guys, one engaged to a very nice English girl with whome I clicked straight away. We had a very nice evening, picked up a very average indian takeaway and walked back to Merlot.
We stayed put for the next couple of days doing bits and pieces on Merlot - always something to be done. We are having trouble with the toilet which seems to be leaking - NOT GOOD - eventually Trev found that one of the seals were past its sell-by date so ordered a new one to be delivered to the post office in the
village.
I had a bit of a sore ear and throat and bearing in mind its not always easy to get to see a dr, I decided to make an appointment as a temporary patient. What a carry on I had with the reception staff, they were definitely not keen to have me see a dr and made making an appointment as difficult as possible going as far as being downright rude. (Unfortunately there are still some bigoted people who think if you live on a boat you somehow fit into a category of people that are a little less than desirable)
I had my revenge as I eventually saw a very very nice lady doc who after hearing about my treatment, was not happy about the behavior of the reception staff and assured me she would take it up with them........
Having spent a week in Sawbridgeworth, we decided to set off again tomorrow.
Friday 2nd September (where does the time go????)
We left Sawbredgeworth early this morning heading for a place called Broxbourne - frogspawn, as I call it - ( on our way to Camden we passed through but did not spend any time here so we will stay a couple of days and see what we can find.
